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Respect your Fellow American and Fellow Active Rain Member - It's only Politics

In these past several months, especially in these last few weeks leading up to this election day, I have witnessed incredible passion from both sides of the political spectrum here on Active Rain. I believe we all have a right to our beliefs, opinions, etc. and we have a right to express them.

But regardless of how you feel, Democrat, Republican, Independent, Green or Other, let's remember that we need to respect each other's beliefs and opinions even if we disagree with them.

Respect

As a young child I remember observing my grandparents argue about some topic. The interesting thing was that they really treated it more like a debate rather than an argument. My grandma respectfully argued her side and so did my grandfather. In the end there was usually compromise and a great deal of patience and respect for each other.

You may think that one person's political view point is way off base. You may even think they are fools. But remember that you will rarely change ones political viewpoint. You may not like it and you may argue your case. But arguing in a respectful and diplomatic way may gain you more respect and support in return even from those who do not agree with your point of view.

Let's remember that we aren't all going to agree on how this country should be run and believe me no political party is perfect. Our individual political belief systems have been molded from our past experiences. Where we grew up, the family we were raised under, etc.

And by no means should I judge you and tag you as a bad person because you may have a different view point than I on the same topic.

Although I hope we all have faith in tolerance and more importantly Respect.

Respect for each other. Now that's progress!

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Contact Jessica Bigger, Realtor®, Ming Tree GMAC Real Estate at 707-269-4305 to list your home for sale or to purchase your first or next home in Eureka, Cutten, Bayside, Arcata, McKinleyville, Westhaven, Trinidad and the rest of Humboldt County California.

To view all Humboldt County CA Historic and Luxury Homes for Sale Click Here, then click on Search Area Listings at the top of the web site. I know Humboldt County CA well and can help you get your home Sold or help you buy your next Humboldt County California Home. Call today!

Posted by Jessica Bigger Realtor® California Coast Real Estate on 11/05/2008 09:37 AM

Comments (39)

Respect During Election in the ActiveRain Channel

respect, active rain, election 2008

Post is included in group: Selling Soulfully
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39 Comments on Respect your Fellow American and Fellow Active Rain Member - It's only Politics

NOV

2008

Thank you for the post..

I don't think AR is a forum for politcs or religion.

Thanks for sharing

Rich

Charlotte NC

Jessica - Just (Opinions), That's all they are and we all have our own. Another good post and I really like the Redwood photo!

Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace

You may say that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one

-John Lennon-

Jessica I think we all respect the right to express our own opinions it is mainly when those few out there make it personal or try to infringe on the rights of others.

Amen, Sista'! Love the picture of the redwood-kind of puts it all in perspective!

Hi Jessica very nice post. There are winners and losers. Those who voted for the folks that lost win in a way as they get t vote. Those who one have a responsibility so it is not all roses there either

Great post - even greater message. We should all strive to respect each others opinions. The world would be a better place.

Good job.

As to this election, I wrote not one political post (unless you count a post about my son voting for the first time) .....and believed that no matter what outcome was that "United we stand, Divided we fall".

Jessica: LOVE the pic' of the TREE! You're so right, we DO need to respect each others (not just in AR) opinions. There should never be any name calling, for sure. But we can express our feelings of joy or disappointment--and that is what it is, it's either one feeling or the other. I'm certainly disappointed, but I realize We ALL have to let last night's decision sink in and then MOVE forward.

Congrat's on the feature!!!

Rich - I hate talking politics with people because it's such a heated issue for many and we usually walk away feeling worse than before. Then we start judging each other by our politial beliefs. That's not how I want to get to know someone. Although we have the freedom to express our opinion even political or religiously. I just choose not to.

Robert - Yep very true. It just was a little overwhelming to read some of the comments on those political posts. They got really out of hand and abusive at times and I just think we need to remember that we all are here to work together.

David - Beautiful

Larry - I agree. There's always a way to express your opinion without disrespecting the other person.

Lisa - Thanks! I thought so to. How fitting isn't it?

Charlie - Yep. No matter who won office they have a huge challenge ahead and things aren't going to get easier, but I have faith that we'll get there at some point.

Scott - Thank you. I know my view might be a little too "Utopia" driven, but I stand behind it and your comments too and continue to believe that anything we say and do can be done with respect to others always.

Julie - I didn't write any either and I didn't comment on them. I just didn't want to be a part of that and you're absolutely right we need to work together not work against eachother. It's time to move forward and find solutions to our current situation together. By the way - give your son a congrats from me on his participation in the political process - I congratulated him on your blog too.

Kat - Thanks! I agree expressing your opinion on how you feel is what makes Active Rain so great. It's the name calling that really gets to me too. I just don't like to be a part of that and sometimes I choose to not respond if someone gets nasty. Not going there. I'm glad we all, regardless or our values, are ready to move forward. It would have been challenging no matter who took office. I just hope we can work together to make our lives a little bit better.

Jessica, nice post, and like David said----the words of John Lennon were never more apt than they are today.

Very well said Jessica, America has to unite.

Charles - so very true.

Patricia - Yes. It's time to put our differences aside and work together towards real solutions.

Hey, Jessica. I think it is time to focus on all the positive aspects that came from yesterday, both republican and democrat. I can honestly say that I am glad yesterday is over and I hope that we, as a country, can move forward. All my best, Jim

Very nice post. I know that many of us have strong opinions and that they are not always well-received, but you have to consider WHERE you are posting your opinions. ActiveRain is a site designed for real estate professionals to give advice, share ideas and assist home buyers & sellers... it is not a politically-based site. There are plenty of political blogs and communities out there, so if you feel the need to vent or debate on a political issue, please go to the correct site!

Nice sentiment. I am wishful that this country could be all respectful at one another, but it doesn't feel very realistic. There will always be people in America who trample on other people. Making love and not war isn't plausible with people trampling.

I could not agree more. I certainly have strong opinions, but I really try to express them in a respectful way. The fact that someone disagrees with me doesn't make them a bad person. The only thing I have trouble respecting is disrespect.

Jason: Perfectly worded.

I'm happy we are on the other side of this election!!

Moving on....fixing the economy so we can all earn a living is what's on my mind....I am ready to move forward with hope that we can and will unite for the common good of our Nation.

Jim - I agree. We get to live a new chapter in our country's history and I'm ready to move forward with you both.

Kerry - I think sometimes we forget that. I'm really careful about what I say and I'm a pretty passionate person, but I learned something when I used to be a DJ on our local radio station KHUM. There is a way to present your thoughts and views in a respectful way and in a way that gets others to really think about the topic. Cliff Berkowitz, Larry Trask and my former Program Director (g-d love him) Mike Dronkers taught me a great deal about this.

Tammy - yeah you're right. But I'm going to try to always take the high road regardless.

Jason - Yeah! i'm glad you stopped by. "The only thing I have trouble respecting is disrespect" I love that! Pretty much somes this whole conversation up for me.

Kat - I second that!

Dawn - Me too! Although it's been a remarkable 20 some months to watch.

Kathy - Here, Here to that.

And respect for each other is what we continue to strive for on this network....in life face to face. I want to be remembered that way.....even online :)

Celeste - That's what I love about you. That postive, forward thinking personality always shines through even in your comments :)

Respect and tolerance certainly can go a long ways in this society. I thoroughly enjoyed your post.

Aloha Jessica,

R-E-S-P-E-C-T -sock it to me! Thanks Jessica for the rational and positive thinking. All the caustic rancor that preceded the election made me sick to my stomach. So much fear and loathing is not healthy for the country or the world.

Peace,

I so agree. We, as Americans need to work together to help the lower and middle class that are likely to lose their jobs if all that is planned is inacted. It will kill me to have lay off as many people as I think we will have to do next year. We have to all spread the word that the bailout that the lower class and middle class think they are going to get will backfire on me. My employees are so excited about getting universal healthcare, but they don't understand that we will have to lose a given percentage of employees to make this happen. God willing we can work together to save our middle class from becoming jobless in the coming year. Let's fight together........

There are several groups set up for politics and that is fine by me, but if you post a political post to the open forum you get what you give. If I disagree with you than I have the right to let you know. If you don't want to be criticized than you need to post to a sympathetic audience not the general forum.

GReat post, Jessica! As a split political family I can tell you it can be quite heated and was very much so this election. Still, win or lose, you have to support the new president as that is the patriotic thing to do.

Thanks Jessica! Well put.

To all those who are crying with joy... or...just crying:

Nothing is ever as good as it seems...

Nothing is ever as bad as it seems.....

Reality lies somewhere in the middle.

Diane - That''s what it's all about. I really believe we can express our opinions, even passionately with out being abusive to others. Thanks for stopping by.

Kimo - Yeah, no kidding. I refused to subject myself to it all.

Tim - I hope things get better for our middle class. They deserve it and one thing that many of us forget even here as Realtors that many of us really are middle class citizens.

Michael - You are right. It goes both ways. But I really do think on both sides things were taken way out of context and way out of hand at certain points.

Matt - I bet it makes conversation around the dinner table very interesting.

Susan - I love your perspective. So very true.

NOV

2008

Jessica

Thank you for sharing in this post and picture. Wouldn't it be great if John Lennon were here to see this. When we move to a win/win mentality we all win in a big way.

Cynthia

Most people feel very strong about their political viewpoints and you are correct we are not all going to have the same ideas about how things should be done, but at least we have the opportunity to express our feelings through our opportunity to vote.

Here Here!

I remember the way the '00 and '04 left me. I was devastated. I can understand how McCain supporters are feeling now. But I sucked it up, and hoped for the good of my country. I hope that these disheartened McCain supporters can do the same.

Please stop the negative, hurtful drivel. Let's heal this country, not tear it apart even more.

It's noteworthy, I suppose, that people with very strong political opinions don't generally ask me why I think what I think. They usually want to tell me why whoever disgrees with them is an idiot. I'm glad to see blogs like yours that assure me that there's at least one other person out there who respects dissent.

NOV

2008

Jessica - Thanks for the post. I appreciate your perspective, and the fact that we all need to have mutual respect for differing opinions. Let's all move forward to resolve our current issues. We can do it.

NOV

2008

Cynthia - It would be an amazing thing. It would.

Laura - I think that is the most powerful way to express your opinion especially when it comes to what's in your individual best interest - I think what was more incredible was the fact that we had the largest voter turn out we ever have had in our history as a nation. It may be hard to see how one person can make a difference, but it's the combination of many that make change happen - One voter at a time.

Brenda - Here, Here - It's time to move forward and make things better for all of us.

Lynn K - That's exactly why I don't waste my time having any political conversations with others who believe differently than I do. It's one thing to have a conversation where each person respects the other's opinion even if one is trying to persuade the other to see his/her viewpoint. It's the ones that are abusive that I can't stand.

Lynn J - Absolutely - That's what it's all about.

We are all human and as an American, we have the freedom of speech Thanks to our Troops! If someone has a different opinion than mine, they should feel free to blog their opinion. That is the beauty of AR.

Denise - I absolutely agree and I also have the freedom ignore or not comment on any blog where the commentary starts getting nasty and disrespectful.

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